Development of the Sd. Kfz. 7 can be traced back to a 1934 requirement for an 8-ton half-track. The vehicle first appeared in 1938 and was destined to be used mainly as the tractor for the 8.8cm flak gun. The Sd. Kfz. 7 was an extremely useful vehicle, employed both as a weapons carrier and prime mover by the Wehrmacht. They also saw service as observation and command posts for V2 rocket batteries. The vehicle could carry up to 12 men and a considerable quantity of supplies, as well as pulling up to 8000kg (17,600 lbs) of equipment. Most were fitted with a winch, which enabled them to pull smaller disabled vehicles out of mud or other quagmires. A mainstay of the German Army, the Sd. Kfz. 7 was even admired by the enemies of the Reich. In fact, the British tried to make exact copies of captured Sd. Kfz. 7s and some vehicles were appropriated for use by the Allies after World War II.

Pictured here is a 1:50 scale replica of a German Kraus-Maffei Sd. Kfz. 7 semi-tracked personnel carrier/prime mover in summer camouflage. Sold Out!

Historical Account: "Rough Going" - The Sd. Kfz. 7 seen here was used by the German XII Armee operating in France during June 1940. It was employed both as a personnel carrier and as an artillery tractor, and was highly effective at overcoming the dense terrain of the Ardennes Forest that had been considered by the Allies too big an obstacle for the spearhead of the German offensive.